Dongzhuang Site

　　The Dongzhuang Site is situated on the banks of the Yellow River in the southwestern part of Ruicheng County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. It is a Neolithic site covering an area of 50,000 square meters. In 1958, archaeological discoveries included circular semi-subterranean house foundations, food storage pits, pottery decorated with fish patterns, as well as stone tools such as axes and adzes. It is one of the important sites for studying the Yangshao Culture. In May 2013, it was designated as part of the seventh batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level by the State Council.

　　Archaeologists unearthed the following within this 50,000-square-meter Yangshao-period village: circular semi-subterranean house foundations, food storage pits, pottery kilns; vessels adorned with exquisitely painted black triangular patterns and fish motifs; as well as a variety of production tools such as stone axes, adzes, knives, ceramic knives, sling bullets, spinning whorls, pounding stones, ceramic scrapers, and arrowheads made from stone and animal bones. Decorative items including bone hairpins, tooth ornaments, and ceramic rings were also found. Additionally, five burials were excavated, including same-sex double burials, multiple secondary burials, and child urn burials where pottery jars were covered with stones as burial containers. These findings indicate that the ancient inhabitants of Shanxi during this period had transitioned to an integrated lifestyle of agriculture, hunting, and weaving, and had also developed an aesthetic sense for self-adornment. The burial practices suggest that society at the time was still in the matrilineal clan stage, with the basic economic unit being several separate matrilineal families. Archaeological experts believe that among the various types of Yangshao Culture, the Dongzhuang type had advanced beyond the Banpo type and was transitioning toward the Miaodigou type.